DISCOVER THE Frt Mar 1991 A 26year career from decoys to lifelike sculptures Artist strives to capture that one moment By TERR WHITE I do the work for myself The real joy that I get is in creating the piece of work taking it from an idea and developing it into the final piece Paul size but the rest is up to the artist He However he docs get a lot of help r w never does the same piece twice from his family Working alongside Every piece is an original he said him at the gallery is his wife Dolly If you re looking at a Paul Burdette Mr Burdette hasnt been compel- and two of his sons Glenn and Man sculpture you to touch it to lately but instead is enjoying art Other members of ihecloscknit make sure it not real f the sake of art also help out from lime to lime Mr Burdette began his career 26 Competitions are a good proving Glenn Mark and Mr years ago when he sculpted his first ground and winning is the mark of other son Brett have all inherited his decoy duck for hunting His passion your excellence he said however skills and create sculptures of their for the art grew and today after Theres a point after which you say own receiving many esteemed awards he How many limes do I have to win The Burdctic Gallery Lid deals in is one of the most renowned artists of Between ihc list of buyers wailing many types of art such as stone forhissculpiuresandrunningBurdct- sculptures paintings and diamond point engravings Original works of artists such as Romance and Robert adorn the walls of the recentlyexpanded gallery The gallery is square feel with the recent addition of an origi nals room Many artists deal exclusively with the Burdette Gallery such Paul Callc Alan and Audrey Casey Were looking at expanding on the originals market Mr Burdette said What attracts so many people lo the Mr Burdette who lives in East Gallery Ltd Mr Burdette barely pallery is its variety of florals still township has won has lime to judge the competitions lifes wildlife landscapes silkscreens ous awards for his bird sculptures that he used to compete in lithographs he said including the World Championships in and most recently in 1989 Ten years ago he opened a success ful family gallery in East and enjoys doing what he docs best taking a piece of wood and bringing to life I do the work for myself Mr said The real joy thai I get is in creating the piece of work tak ing it from an idea and developing it into the final piece The final piece takes a lot of hard detailed work he said The demand for Mr Burdette sculptures which arc displayed in homes all over North America is more than he can keep up with Peo ple who order a piece from him now will have to wait about seven or eight years for its completion he said One sculpture takes the artist about three months depending on its size and the amount of detail required to make it perfect Usually the detail in his work is painfully intricate What makes his sculptures different from others and special to the buyer is the action he said I strive to have a lot of motion in my work Mr Burdctlccxplained I try to capture that one moment a birds life Some of his work features spread wings ruffled feathers and detailed habitats such as ice water trees and snow Bccauseof the time involved in creating his masterpieces one sculp ture may cost about 10000 again depending on its size and detail Mr an elevator engineer until he became involved in sculpt ing has done an incredible amount of research on birds over the years In order to create an exact replica of a bird for the client he studies books photographs that he has taken and skin samples from the Royal Ontario Museum That research pays off as he says no one has displeasure p Burdette displayed this Intricate sculpture of two birds perched on a in his work tree branch at the Toronto Sportsman Show last weekend Although the world Buyers may ask Mr Burdette to champion hasnt entered a competition In two years the Judging at the show sculp a particular bird in a certain took place from his booth The Burdette Gallery also puts for corporations and offers incentive together packages of exclusive prints programs Walk the Bruce Trail The Bruce Trail is a 762 kmlong foot path along the Niagara Escarpment Winding from near Niagara Falls to Tobermory at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula the Trail Is a great way to explore nature quietly on foot The Trail crosses public and private land with the consent of the owners and is maintained by volunteers Get out and enjoy the Trail then show your support Join the Bruce Trail Association today Only 30 per year will help en sure the Trails future Bruce Trail Association PO Box Hamilton Ont L8N 3N9 Name I Postal Code I Phone Introducing our new spring Ports Linda Lundstrom Steilman Take advantage of our SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER DISCOUNT March 22 to AfrillSth J 65 Broadway Orangevllle 9410192